Seven firms have been ordered to pay a total of $68,500 in fines and $16,088 in restitution for municipal trade, disclosure, pricing and supervisory violations, according to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority's monthly disciplinary actions released Tuesday.

Rhode Island officials and a federal mediation panel late Friday announced a settlement in lawsuits that challenged the state's 2011 pension overhaul law, but state lawmakers must still approve it.

The on-again, off-again Rhode Island pension lawsuit settlement announcement is on again, according to a federal mediation agency.The on-again, off-again Rhode Island pension lawsuit settlement announcement is on again, according to a federal mediation agency.

A federal agency called off a settlement announcement regarding the lawsuit challenging Rhode Island's pension overhaul law, while a judge set a September trial date.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has received dozens of filings for arbitration investors who say they were harmed by unsuitable advice doled out by UBS Financial Services of Puerto Rico when the market for the commonwealth's bonds declined.

Former Bank of America executive Phillip Murphy pleaded guilt Monday in a North Carolina federal court to rigging municipal bond investment bids, while convicted bid-rigger Mark Zaino's sentencing has been delayed yet again in New York.

The Securities and Exchange Commission's fraud case against Miami and its former budget director Michael Boudreaux is on hold pending Boudreaux's appeal of the court's decision to invalidate his effort to claim immunity from the lawsuit.

Convicted bid-rigger Michael Welty and two co-defendants are moving for a new trial, claiming the government suppressed evidence in the form of an email that could have allowed Welty to challenge some of the government's claims against him.

Convicted bid-rigger David Rubin should pay more than $11,5 million in restitution to 99 municipal victims who have not been compensated for losses they incurred due to "kickbacks" and depressed interest rates resulting from criminal activity, according to U.S. Justice Department filings with a federal court this week.

The SEC and former JPMorgan bankers asked a federal court to exclude experts in the pay-to-play suit involving Jefferson County, Ala.'s sewer deals.

Sentencing for convicted bid-rigger David Rubin has been pushed back until March 6 because his attorney will not be able to be present during the previously scheduled Feb. 3 date.

Miami and former budget director Michael Boudreaux have requested a jury trial and denied most of the Securities and Exchange Commission's fraud allegations in recent federal court filings.

Securities and Exchange Commission Officials confirmed Wednesday that the SEC's office of enforcement will carry the responsibility of overseeing all of the more than 1,100 registered municipal advisors

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has fined four firms a total of $290,000 for violations of municipal securities rules, including E. J. De La Rosa & Co., which was hit with a $200,000 fine for improperly using bond proceeds to reimburse itself for payments to a lobbying group.

The Securities and Exchange Commission announced Monday that compliance with the final municipal advisor registration rules will not be required until July 1, the date on which the first set of municipal advisors will be required to register under the final rules.

Sentencing for convicted bid-rigger David Rubin has been pushed back until Feb. 3 and for Mark Zaino until Feb. 11, while Alexander Wright received a light sentence and James Hertz only had to pay $300 in fees.

The Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board's revenue fell 2% in fiscal year 2013 from the previous year, due to decreases in revenue from both underwriting fees and fines for rule violations, according to data included in the self-regulatory organization's annual report.

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority has identified the suitability of the bonds of distressed municipalities for investors, as well as municipal advisor activity, as areas it will focus on in 2014.

Jefferson County, Ala., is out of municipal bankruptcy but appeals of the bankruptcy plan and criminal prosecutions will keep the county in the spotlight.

A federal judge has ruled that the Securities and Exchange Commission's fraud case against Miami, Fla. and its former budget director can continue in civil court, denying both defendants' motions to dismiss.